Band-brake equalizer



Aug. 24 1926.

BAND; BRAKE UALIZEh Filed June s, 1925 1,597,350 H. M. HARRIS Patented Aug. 24, 1926. a

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUGH M. HARRIS, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO LUCEY MANUFAC- TUBING CDRPORATION, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, A CORPORATION OF TEN- NESSEE.

BAND-BRAKE EQUALIZER.

This invention relates generally to bandbrakes and, more particularly, to a certain new and useful improvement in band-brake equalizers. I p

Forming part of present day rotary oil or water drilling equipment, is a machine, commonly termed a draw-works, employed in lowering the pipe for drilling into the ground and in lifting the pipe out of the ground to afford convenient opportunity for repairs or replacements of the cutting tools carried by the drill-stem. In lowering the pipe into the ground, it is today the general practice, so far as I am aware, to

" permit the weight of the pipe to unwind the cable from the drums 'of the draw-works and, by means of bandbra-kes, lock or brake the drums to prevent, when desired, further unwinding of the cable, In lowering the pipe to great depths, the constant and repeated application of the band-brakes effects, especially when, as is often the con dition, the bands have unequal braking-pull upon the drums, a heating of the drums to such an extent that breakage is a very frequent occurrence. Many efforts and means have heretofore been made and tried to overcome this breakage, but, so far as I am aware, without avail or success.

The chief object of my present invention is hence to obviate such overheating and resulting breakage of parts and, to such end, my invention resides in the provision of brake equalizing means so constructed and operating to insure that neither drum will get more than its portion of the load and thereby cause an excess of overheating, and in the novel features of form, construction,

arrangement, and combination of parts here inafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, the figure illustrates in fragmental perspective a drilling draw-works embodying band-brake equalizing means of my invention.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention, A designates a flooring, platform, or the like, suitably supported upon which for rotation in standards, not shown, is a shaft having driven connection by means of chains 22 with a suitable source of power.

Fixed on shaft 1 in spaced relation, are

brake-drums B, B, each formed preferably with peripheral flanges 3, 3. Disposed intermediate the flanges 3 in encircling relation upon the peripheries of the drums B, B, are brake-bands G, O, of split resilient type, provided upon their inner peripheral faces, as is usual, for drum-engagement with suitable friction-lining, each respective band (1 having its one or upper, so-called dead, end suitably fixed, as at t, to a cross-bar 5 rigidly supported over, and in fixed connection with, the floor or platform A by means of a pair, of suitably spaced upstanding rods 66.

Mounted for oscillatory movement in bearings 7 fixed on floor or platform A preferably intermediate the bolt-bars 6 and the shaft 1, is a brake-lever D having an intermediate stirrup-portion 8 and asuitably upstanding actuating end-portion 9; and interposed between, and pivotally connected intermediate its ends, as by a pin 10, to the ends or legs of a substantially U- shaped clip 11 loosely fitting at its bight upon'the stirrup-portion 8 of lever D, is a preferably flat equalizer-bar E. Disposed and pivotally fastened, as by pins 12, upon the opposite ends of the bar E, are additional substantially U-shaped clips 13, 13, to

the ends or, legs of which the bands C at their other or lower, so-called pull, ends are riveted or otherwise rigidly fixed.

In use or operation, it will be evident that, when end-portion 9 of brake-lever D is suitably actuated-turned down, the braking load or pull is applied upon the bar E and then through lateral shifting of the bar E to and upon the pull-ends of the bands C and the bands C thus tightened circumferentially upon or drawn into braking clutching engagement with the drums, the bands C, through their pivoted connection with the bar E and through the pivoted connection between the bar E and brake-lever D, automatically, in such tightening or clutching operation, adjusting themselves'and taking equal pull upon the drums 13.

Having preferably hook-connection, as at 14, with the bands C, are rods 15 yieldingly connected at their upper ends, as by coil-springs 16, with the draw-works frame 17, for retracting the bands C out of clutching or braking engagement with the drums on release of the band tighteningmeans. It will be obvious that the springs drums and split resilient bands fixed at 16 permit the rods to yield on braking actuation of the lever B, any required adjustment in the length of the rods 15 being readily effected by means of interposed turnbuclrlcs 1-8 ldy new band-brake equalizing means is relatively simple in form and construction, is conveniently and readily operated, and is exceedingly etectire and'efilcient in the accoinplisi iinent, and performance of its in: tended object and functions. It will. be evident that, air", the pin 10 should shear of? or break through ear or other cause, the bar E, in its connection with the bands C, would continue to hold the bands C from becon 'ng displaced upon the drums B, and hat, nrther, the bar E, both through its as fl plateand infits connection the l e-lever D and the hands (3,

will not vnen the brake-lever is not in use or 111 on to hold tiebands C from 9' ing at their lower or pull ends upon one floor or plat;

form A.

1 ain aware that changes in the form, construction, arrangemenhand combination of the several parts, of my brake-hand equalizmg means may be made and substituted. for those herein shown and described Without departing from the nature and principle 01' my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclairn and desire to secure by Letters Patent is H 1. lncombination witha pa r of rotatable position and functions also thsili dead. ends in encircling disposition upon the peripheries of the drums, of means for circuniterentially tightening the bands in unison and with equalized} pull-upon the drums, said means including an oscillatory lever, a bar, a U-shaped clip having pivoted connection at lts legs with, and interme- 'diate the ends. or", the bar and loosely at its bight encircling the lever, and a pair of ill-shaped, clipsrigidly fixed at; their legs to the free pull ends of the bands and having pivoted; connection at their bights with the opposite ends of the bar.

2, L1, combination with a support, or a shaft inounted for rotation upon the sup port, a pair of druinsfixed in spaced relation upon the shaft,,splitresilient bands disposed in encircling relation upon: the peripheries or the drums and having their upper] dead.

ends connected to. said, support, and means for circuniterentially tightening the bands in unison, and with equalized. pull upon the drums, sa d means including an, oscillatory lever, a, fiat bar, a. tj-shapedclip pivotally" connected. at, its legs With, and intermediate the ends of, thebarand', loosely at. itsbight encir. A clips rigidly hxed at, their legs to. the free pull ends of the bands and having pivoted,

connection their bight with the opposite ends, of the bar.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name tothis specification;

HUGH HARRIS.

'ng-the lever, and a pair of U-shaped; 

